Computing machine



Aug 1, 1939. E. BEAUMONT 2,167,620

COMPUTING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1937 f 15A 73k /j/ @wmmwbwm @fmwmmm DDDDDDD s? @wwmm@ r @@D@ C I6 Z6 di h3 l5 l5 14 154D Patented Aug. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE COMPUTING MACHINE Ernest Beaumont, Canton, Ohio Application June 14, 1937, Serial No. 148,103

1 Claim.

'I'he invention relates to that general class of machines constructed to mechanically add or carry on other computing operations, and adapted to register the result of those computations by 5 suitable means, and more particularly to machines of this class in which the mechanism is caused'to operate to do the addingI or other computing by the operation of an electric motor.

Machines of this class are usually provided with a plurality of number keys adapted to be selectively depressed, representing the amount to be added or subtracted as the case may be, these number keys being adapted to set certain stops which regulate the extent of movement of parts of the mechanism when an operation is thereafter-performed by the subsequent depression oi an addition or a subtraction touch bar to perform the adding or subtracting operation as desired.

The object of the present invention is to do away with the addition key or bar andthe subtraction key or bar commonly provided upon machines of this class, which require an extra movement of the operators hand after each item is set up in the machine by depression of the number keys, and to provide an individual control or operating key associated with each number key and so positioned that as the operator depresses any number key he may with the same movement of his iinger depress the corresponding control 'or operating key which starts the motor and causes the mechanism to operate to do the adding or other computing desired.

Machines of this class are usually provided a5 with a longitudinally movable trip bar or other means adapted to be moved-by depressing the adding or subtracting key or bar, the movement of this trip bar or equivalent means actuating `mechanism which closes the circuit to the motor. o The present invention contemplates the provision of a depressible frame having cam means for longitudinally moving the trip bar or similar means, the frame being adapted to be depressed by the depression of any one of the individual control or operating keys.

Another object of the invention is to provide a telescopically mounted key button or head upon the key stem of each of the number keys of the machine in order to facilitate the depressing of a number key and the corresponding control or operating key with a single movement of the operators nger,

The above objects together with others, which will be apparent from the drawing and the following description, or which may be later rethroughout the drawing. Y

(ci. zas- 145) ferred to, may be attained by constructing the machine in the manner illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view with parts broken away of the keyboard portion of an adding or com-5 puting machine showing the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2, a side elevation with parts broken away of the portion of themachine shown in Mg. 1;

Fig. 3, a detail sectional view taken as on the 10 line 3 3, Fig. 2; and

Fig'. 4, an enlarged detail section through one of the telescoping number key buttons.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts l5 The invention is applicable to various Vforms of adding and computing machines but for the purpose of illustration it is shown in the drawing as applied to the well known'Allen-Wales yadding machine.

The ,machine is illustrated only inrpart, it beying considered suiiicient for a description and ithe upper forward portion of the casing is indicated at Il. The usual number keysare provided with stems I2 slidably located through the keyboard II and surmounted by suitably inscribed buttons I3as in usual practice, the latter 35 being as usual numbered from l to 9 and arranged in any desired keyboard plan, eight banks of number keys being shown in Fig. l.

The key stems I2 are adapted to slide through the usual apertures in the keyboard II in order 40 to set certain stops (not shown) which regulate the extent of movement of certain parts (not shown) when, an operation of the lmachine is thereafter performed, all as in usual and well known practice.

As shown in Fig. 4, each key button I3 may be telescopically mounted upon the corresponding key stem I2. This may be accomplished in any usual or well known manner, preferably by forming the button or head I3 hollow, as shown, and 50 slidably mounted over a cup I3a, xed upon the upper end of the key stern I2, a coil sprlng, or equivalent resilient means, being located within the cup and hollow button, whereby each number key has the usual setting up movement'when 55 depressed to the position shown at A by the iifth key Il from the left in Fig. 2, and then is capable of a further movement by further, pressure upon the telescoping head which causes compression of the coil ring within the hollow key head and telesco of the hollow key button I3 over the cup Ila.

Itis usual practice to provide allongitudinally set up on the number keys. In order to do away' with this extra movement of the operators hand as each item is set up in the machine, the present invention contemplates the provision of means associated with each number key for operating the displaceable shift member Il or equivalent mechanism.

As shown in the drawing, an individual control key is associated with each number key and comprises a key stem I5 slidably located through the keyboard Il and surmounted by an arcuate button or head I8 located below the button I3 of the corresponding number key and preferably substantially at the level to which said number key may be depressed, without telescoping of the button thereof, as indicated at A in Fig. 2, whereby it will be seen that when the operator depresses any number key, as the same reaches the setting up position shown at A, the flnger may contact the head or button i6 of the corresponding control key which may thus be depressed in the same movement or operationvof the nger, the telescoping head of the number key permitting the same. to be pushed down further with the control key, without further moving the key stem of the number key.

Each of the key stems l5 may be slidably mounted through a suitable aperture I 1 in a plate I8 located at a point spaced below the keyboard Il, a shoulder I8 being provided upon the key stem and adapted to be normally urged into contact with the underside of the plate Il as by a pull spring 2U connected to each key stem and to the keyboard lIl or other stationary portion of the machine.

For the purpose of transmitting movement from the adding keys to the displaceable shift member Il or equivalent mechanism, a vertically movable frame may be provided, this frame including a plurality of longitudinal bars 2l corresponding in number and position to the banks of keys.

In order to provide for' uniform vertical movement of this frame regardless of the portion thereof which may be depressed,a depending post 22 may be fixedl to `leach corner portion ofthe frame, each post having a sliding fit within a tube 22 supported upon the bottom of the casing I0, a coil spring 24 being located around each tube and post and interposed between the vertically movable frame and said bottom wall of the casing. g

Each of the key stems I5 has spaced shoulders 25 engaging over the upper edges of the corresponding bar 2i of the movable frame whereby when anyone of the adding keys is depressed,V

the frame comprising the bars 2| will be moved downward. i

The displaceable shift member Il may be provided with one or more lugs 21 and the vertically movable frame l2l is provided with a similar number of ears 28, each having a cam surface 29 cooperating with one of the lugs 21 whereby downward movement of the frame 2i, caused by depressing of any one of the control or adding keys, will cause a longitudinal movement of the shift member sufilcient to operate the usual circuit closing means for the motork whereby the motor will operate the machine in usual and well known manner.

-In operating the machine each item is set up by depressing the 'desired number keys as in usual practice and upon the depression of the last number key of each item the operator may place his finger onto the corresponding control key :o as to depress said last named key in order to operate the usual registering or recording mechanism of the machine in well known manner.

It will thus be seen that the setting up of an item and operation of the machine to register or record the item is more easily and quickly accomplished; the operator of the machine being able to operate the same to register or record each item without having to make an extra movement of his hand to the side of the machine.

I claim: v

In a computing machine, a group of number keys\each having a setting up movement and a further movement, a control key located at one side of each number key entirely independent of the number key and having an operating movement, the setting up movement of each number key bringing the same to a position `substantially flush with the normal position of the corresponding 'control key and the further movement of each number key bringing the same to a position substantially flush with the operated movement of the corresponding control key, a longitudinally displaceable shift member normally at rest and having a projection thereon, and a vertically movable frame adapted to be depressed by the operation of any one of the control keys and having a cam cooperating with said projection `.30 

